The past few days have been very stressful for me. I wanted to write something completely different but couldn’t motivate myself to sit down and write it. To relieve some of my stress, I’ve been doing a lot of self-care, so I’m going to tell you guys my favorite self-care practices.

Planning

I’m the kind of person who has to plan out every part of their day. If I don’t write it down in my planner, I’ll most likely forget about it. So, needless to say, I’m obsessed with my planner. I have been into “glam planning” lately. I makes me feel good to sit down and take time to decorate my planner. I plan each day the night so it gives me an hour each day that I don’t have to worry about anything.

Drawing

I haven’t been drawing much lately, but I still doodle every now and then. Art has been proven to help relieve stress, depression, and even physical ailments. Creating art helps you express yourself when words aren’t enough to convey how you feel. You can let out your frustrations with aggressive scribbling, or let out sadness with soothing brushstrokes.

Spa day

Taking care of your body is the best kind of self-care. It makes you feel better both emotionally and physically! Do a facemask, splurge on a nice bath bomb, or just light a candle and soak in the tub. Refreshing your body will help to refresh your mind.

Go outside

Take some time to smell the roses, literally! Lie down in the grass and watch the clouds. Take a new book to the park and hang out on a bench for a while. Go swimming (if it’s warm enough). If the weather doesn’t permit staying outside, just try to get out of the house. A change in your environment could be just what you need to clear your mind. You can also use this as an opportunity to go shopping and treat yourself with something nice!

Clean

Sometimes when I’m stressed, I find it hard to focus on anything. One thing that distracts me the most is having a messy room or workspace. I can only finish my work once everything is clean and tidy. It’s almost therapeutic to spend a little time making things look nice. When I step back and see all of my hard work paid off – even if it’s something simple like making my bed – it can feel like I can take on any task after that.

Take a break

Life is tough, and sometimes you have to focus on yourself and say “no.” Have a weekend where you don’t make any plans, just do whatever you want. When someone asks you to do something for them, just say no or tell them to ask again later. It will give you something to look forward to during the week and may help you be more productive when working.

These are just a few of my favorite self-care practices. Hopefully you find one or two that you like and apply them to your own routine!